Tuesday, January 8, 2008

So, by now I figure you've heard the news: Force 10, L.L.C., a group of local businesswomen, has secured an option to purchase the Seattle Storm. The Storm will remain in Seattle and continue to play at KeyArena.

This is an exciting day for Storm fans, and I'm sure there's a lot on your mind. Here's your chance to share your feedback with the prospective new ownership group and offer your reaction to the news.

I had a chance to chat with the new ownership group in its entirety as today's press conference wrapped up and their passion for women's athletics in general and the WNBA and the Storm in particular is obvious. I'm excited to see what that passion can do in terms of maintaining and expanding upon the Storm's position as one of the (if not the) premier franchises in the WNBA.

Thank you Thank you Thank you, a thousand (or 10 million) times thank you. As a founding fan, I am extremely pleased that I will have the opportunity to watch the Storm for years to come. What great role models the women of this team are, players, front office, and ownership.

To Force 10: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you could have seen the look in my three year old's eyes when I told him the news you would know everything I lack the talent to express in writing. I feel like the judge just awarded custody of our baby back to its parents. It is exciting to know that our owners are the same kind of role models we bring the kids to see on the court. Bravo!

As a founding fan and season ticket holder, I am thrilled to hear that a group of businesswomen are buying the Storm with plans to remain at Key Arena. This is the best news I've heard in a long time. Thank you!!!!!!!

Where do I send my check. This is great news! Now it up to the fans to support the proposed new ownership. Force 10, LLC, set up a bank account that Storm Fans can contribute to. We know that if we all pitch in it will help in keeping the operating costs low. Maybe even make a move to use the money to support buying tickets for those that may not be able to afford them. I'll be there opening night grateful for an outstanding team both on and off the court. Go Storm! Are you in?

I cannot thank this group of women enough. Thank you for keeping the team where they belong, right here in the Pac NW. The Storm are our team. I was sad when I thought that they my be leaving with the Sonics. Now the joy has returned and to think that I will still be able to attend the games of the greatest team in the WNBA is exciting. The Storm would not have the caliber of fans that they have here in Seattle.

What a display of community and social commitment by the distinguished women of Force 10. I commend their leadership and enthusiasm in securing the Storm’s future in Seattle. As a fan and a season ticket holder, my debt of gratitude to these women is immeasurable.

Thank you, Force 10, for stepping up! How often does an ownership group end up with its own fan base?

We were sad about the possiblity that our daughter wouldn't get to grow up going to Storm games. She's been coming since she was six weeks old. At 3 1/2, she loves to come to games (and even met Donna Orender at the kids' poster making station last summer).

We're proud to be season ticket holders and will support the Storm and Force 10 in any way we can. Hey, how about if all of the season ticket holders pledge to introduce 10 new fans to the Storm this season?

I live in Portland and I am a huge Storm fan that travels up I-5 every summer to watch the Storm play and I am thrilled that I can continue! Thank you does not seem to be enough to this group of women for stepping up and making this happen!

This is incredible news and I'm so proud of the women who stepped up and made it possible for the Storm to stay. My daughter has been going to Storm games since she was 4 (she's 7 now) and is the biggest Storm fan ever. The organization does an incredible job of being part of the community and really reaching out to their fans. They serve as wonderful role models as athletes and citizens. This is a great day for Seattle!!!

Just watched Chris Egan's story on king-5 TV about the new owners and I about collapsed in the kitchen.Was working all day and didn't hear the news until watching the news. WOW, all I can say is, WHAT A DAY!Cant wait, great news, great news!

This is soooo cool. My family started out as single ticket goers, and after one season of that bought three season seats. We now have five of them and everyone we take to games loves the sportsmanship and the competition. We often end up buying multiple extra tickets for our friends and and of course anyone lucky enough to be visiting us during Storm season. The Storm season is something our whole family looks forward to and now will for many years to come!! We will be season ticket holders and Storm champions as long as they are in Seattle. Thanks to everyone involved in this and especially to those new owners who had the foresight and tenacity to work this out!! --lynda.

I gave up on renewing my '08 season tickets because of Bennet's relocation intentions.

I can't thank FORCE 10 enough for stepping up to the plate and keeping the Storm here where they belong. According to the news release: "In January and February, the new owners will complete the due diligence, gather public, business community and government support to show the Storm can be successful as a ‘stand-alone’ franchise (no longer sharing operational costs with an NBA team) and then seek approval from the WNBA Board of Governors".

Therefore, all Storm fans must come forward now and show our support, let's bombard the WNBA with e-mails, calls & letters of support!

What great news to hear at the beginning of a New Year. For many months we had been hoping that some local ownership would emerge, but much in life has taught us that this kind of hope is in vain. Now, not only do the local backers materialize, but WHAT A GROUP! Athletes, philanthropists, and non-profiteers one and all! Independent women leading the franchise to Independence! This is almost too good to be true! You've had us for years, now we're glad to know we'll have you.Look for a few signs of appreciation up in section 122!Joe, Annie, Jeffrey (Nose-strip Boy)

Now you've got me - you had me at "Storm Stay in Seattle". A former NCCA outside hitter, a mother of a budding sporty spice, and as of today a first time season ticket buyer (4x)- count me in as a new member of the flock of Force 10 Hoops and a Storm Fan-atic. Admittedly, I've never recovered from the ABL collapse - a league founded and managed by women. But as of today, I'm "cured"! Thank you Anne, Ginny, Lisa and Dawn for your leadership and commitment to professional womens sports. Jennifer

As soon as last season ended we renewed our season tickets. We hoped the Storm would be back, then we heard "for another year" and we breathed a sigh of relief. Then My partner woke me up with sreams of joy as she picked up the paper, so thanks to Force 10 for keeping our beloved team here in Seattle. This is where they belong! We will continue to renew our seats and support this great team and new ownership!

"A group of Storm season ticket holders" -- that's all I need to know! I'm beyond happy about this. A huge thanks to you, and to Karen Bryant, who is always the heart and soul of this team. I can't wait to pay my money to people who care about Seattle and about women's basketball!

As a father, I can't begin to tell you what this means to my daughter and me. The Storm is one of our favorite things to do together and has provided unforgettable, bonding times for us. Giving my first-grader the chance to see and cheer for athletic, empowered women is precious to me, and the thought that we were going to lose that was a blow. In a society where we so often send the message to our daughters that it's a choice between princess or victim, The Storm does all the right things for the right reasons. We'll see you on May 17, screaming our heads off in green. Thanks from a dad.

I've been hoping for months that a local group would purchase the team, but this is beyond my wildest dreams. As someone who came to be a sports fan out of my lifelong feminism and in support of Title 9, I have to agree with what Patrick said. Each of these women is a wonderful role model for young women, just as the WNBA is. Way to go Ladies!

We were thrilled to hear of the stunning news that a local group of women Storm fans have come through for all of us in a BIG way!I was hoping against hope something like this would happen, and wishes do come true! Thank you so very, very much!! All I can say right now is that we'll be supporting the Storm even more enthusiastically than ever before, and do whatever we can to promote them. God bless you all!

what fantastic news. I renewed my tickets hoping a show of fan support would help keep the team here. Now let's go Storm. Watching LJ, Bird, and all the visiting players in person is just such an honor. I love it.

God Bless our new "Guardian Angels". Your selfless act in purchasing the Storm was truly amazing! It brought me to tears when I found out. This is a great day for women's sports - you ladies are authoring history. You are providing a path to success for women athletes all around the world. I'm so excited I've to got to go now and buy season tickets!

The Seattle Sorm become my life durring the summer months! I'm so happy to see that I'll be able to cheer them on for years to come! I'm so proud of what these women do on a regular basis, and it gives me great pride to call myself a fan and a season ticket holder! I've got a Storm Fever!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I've been a season ticket holder for 5 years, and couldn't fathom summers without my Storm. Watching these women (especially Lauren) play their hearts out is a pure honor. I really don't have the words needed to express my gratitude. Thank you!

As a Storm fan, I am sooooo excited to hear this news. I now live in San Diego but have been online waiting to see how the Storm situation will play out. I knew that Oklahoma would be a difficult place to develop fans, especially when we have so many in Seattle (and in San Diego) who wanted the team to stay in Seattle. I have been fortunate to meet Ginny and know that Force 10 will make sure the Storm will be around for years to come. I can't wait to watch more games on ESPN! Woooohoooo!

We used to be season ticket holders to the Utah Starzz and were very disappointed when we lost our team. We recently relocated to Seattle and were so excited to find out that we would be able to be season ticket holders for many years to come. Thank you for stepping up to the plate and supporting women's athletics.

This is a great day in history when a group of professional women step up and protect such an important cause. So many of us parents look for positive role models for our children and these women have not only provided us with themselves but also given us back the STORM team. Each year I continue renewing my season tickets so that I can share this sport and atmosphere with my girls. Thank you for allowing us to keep tradition as well as our STORM family alive!

I couldn't dream up a better outcome for the Storm and for Storm fans. That four women--who are not only season ticket holders, but civic leaders--have stepped up to save the Storm is pitch perfect. Their principles match those of the Storm players, the fans, and the organization. They can count on their fans to help make this an even more successful franchise!

I’ve been a Storm season ticket holder for several years and was dismayed about the possibility of them leaving Seattle. I was thrilled to hear the news that a local group purchased them. I believe in the importance of sport as a social and learning activity for both boys and girls, as well as men and women. It’s critical that we can offer women playing at the highest level as role models and a goal for young women – otherwise we’re just paying lip service to gender equality.

In addition to the social importance of women’s professional sports, the games are a much better environment than their male counterparts. Not only are they much more affordable, but there’s a good natured vibe at Storm games that I really enjoy. Basketball isn’t my favorite sport, but I have far more fun at Storm games than I do at other sporting events. I don’t have kids yet, but this sale gives me hope that when I do I’ll be able to take them to Storm games throughout their childhood.

Thanks so much to the new owners for allowing our team to stay in Seattle!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This is an answer to my prayers! As a "founding" Storm season ticket holder, I have been holding out hope that something like this would happen to keep our team in Seattle. I could not be happier!

Having been original Storm season ticket holder, we am thrilled that Force 10 has come to the table to keep the Storm in Seattle where they belong. Although we now live in MN, we remain faithful Storm fans (who wants to be a Lynx fan?) and return each summer for several games. Thank you Force 10!

I am a passionate Storm fan just as the new owners are and believe me, if I had the money, there would be a fifth owner. Thank you so very much for keeping our team in Seattle. This team has the best chance of repeating their championship again. Leave it to the women!! I wish the local TV stations would broadcast more games as some of us are unable to attend. Thank you, thank you.

It is GREAT that the Seattle Storm will be staying in Seattle. Now what is needed is a good public promotion adventure. One way to be in the public "eye" (and ear), is to schedule ALL Seattle Storm games on FREE-OVER-THE-AIR television and (of course) radio. What a great way to bring the Storm to the people.

To Force 10 - Thanks for stepping up & saving the Storm for all my Seattle relatives and all the Storm fans. I've been lucky enough to see a few Storm games at the Key Arena & it's a special experience. What a great fan base you have! Although I live on the East Coast, I still celebrate your victory. As a Sun season ticket holder, I know the joy I felt when an independent source bought a team for our area. You are just what the WNBA needs - independent ownership from the NBA with the commitment to women's sports for a long time to come. Seattle's a great place to be again for Storm players & fans!

About StormTracker

StormTracker, the official blog of the Seattle Storm, features Kevin Pelton, who enters his seventh season of covering the Storm for stormbasketball.com in 2009. Check out StormTracker for complete offseason coverage and Kevin's analysis of the Storm and the WNBA as a whole.Contact KevinStorm Tracker RSS